[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR632.3]

[Page 460]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 632_RURAL ABANDONED MINE PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
                            Subpart A_General
 
Sec. 632.3  Responsibilities.

    (a) The Rural Abandoned Mine Program is administered by the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) through NRCS in accordance with the 
delegation of responsibility contained in Sec. 601.1(h) of this 
chapter.
    (1) The Chief of NRCS is responsible for national program management 
and administration and for coordinating program operations with the 
Office of Surface Mining (OSM), U.S. Department of the Interior.
    (2) State conservationists (Responsible Federal Officials) are 
responsible for program operations within a State including program 
coordination with the State reclamation agency and the representatives 
of OSM.
    (b) The primary public contacts for program assistance are the 
district conservationists located in local NRCS field offices.
    (c) NRCS is assisted by other USDA agencies in accordance with 
existing authorities and agreements in carrying out the program.
    (d) NRCS is to coordinate Rural Abandoned Mine Program activities 
with NRCS programs and the other reclamation programs authorized by Pub. 
L. 95-87 that are carried out by the Office of Surface Mining of the 
U.S. Department of the Interior, State reclamation agencies, and Indian 
tribes. Coordination includes program development, development of 
reclamation standards, preparation of special reports, requests for 
funding, and related actions required to achieve coordination between 
programs.
    (e) NRCS is to consult with State and local reclamation committees 
to obtain recommendations on program operation, evaluation of 
applications for reclamation assistance, and public participation. The 
NRCS State Conservationist is to use existing reclamation committees or 
encourage the organization of a new State committee for this purpose. 
The State Conservationist is to serve as a member when the committee is 
functioning for the purposes of this program. Representatives of the 
Office of Surface Mining, State reclamation agency, State water quality 
agency, State conservation agency, and other agencies or groups are to 
be invited to participate as members. Individual citizens may 
participate through the State committee. Local committees, if needed, 
are to be organized on a multicounty, county, conservation district, or 
other appropriate area with a local membership structure similar to the 
State committee. The district conservationist is to be a member of a 
local reclamation committee organized to provide program guidance.

[43 FR 44749, Sept. 28, 1978, as amended at 45 FR 65181, Oct. 2, 1980]

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